UK Guild of Taxidermists

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UK Guild of Taxidermists

The Guild of Taxidermists was founded in 1976 to raise, maintain and improve the standard and status of taxidermy in the UK.

Membership is open to all who have an interest in taxidermy.

06/06/2024

We are pleased to announce that the booking system is now open for the Guild of Taxidermist Annual Conference 2024 to be held on Friday 31st August to Sunday 1st September at the University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus.

This year's programme is set over 3 days packed full of talks and practical taxidermy demonstrations. There's the opportunity to enter into competitions across all ability classes and to receive 1-1 help from seasoned professionals. It's the one annual taxidermy event you can't afford to miss.

For the full programme and to book your place. Please visit:
https://taxidermy.org.uk/event-5594999
(You'll need to log into your Guild account to book)

Facebook event can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/share/Esf31P6ze7y2oRDb/?mibextid=9l3rBW

We look forward to seeing you there!✨

18/05/2024

We are currently compiling content for volume 47 of The Taxidermist, the guild's annual journal. If you've been working on something interesting, visited a taxidermy filled attraction or would be interested in writing a tutorial for this year's issue, please get in touch with your ideas.

Email journal editor, Sarah at [email protected]

22/04/2024

Even the sun showed up for our Southern Seminar! Our attendees not only got to have a day full of taxidermy talks, demonstrations and showcasing, but they also got to lap up the beautiful landscapes of the Slimbridge wetlands.

21/04/2024

Thankyou to everyone who attended the Guild Seminar at WWT Slimbridge which was a huge success. We were blessed with fantastic weather, a great turnout and a jam-packed day.

A special thank you goes out to our speakers, judges and organisers who made the day happen. We couldn’t have done it without you.

We had a great turnout and a variety of specimens entered by members of all abilities ranging from novice through to professional for judging and/or feedback. Congratulations to those who received credits and thank you to everyone who took the time to prepare and bring their work along.

Below are the official photos of the specimens entered. Can we politely remind all members of the group that submitting specimens for display and critique to Guild seminars and conferences is a constructive and inclusive exercise which aids personal development and in turn improves the standard of Taxidermy collectively.

Comments made on this page may be removed at the discretion of the admin should this ethos not be respected in full.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all soon at the annual conference in Nottingham.

21/04/2024

Justin Bateman kindly did a talk for the attendees of the seminar yesterday on how to correctly prep a form.

We strive to provide demonstrations that cater to all levels of experience. Justin's demonstration provided some valuable knowledge to our beginner taxidermists while also providing helpful tips and tricks, tool and material suggestions and recipes to our more seasoned artists.

20/04/2024

Southern Seminar is underway! Good turn out, some fabulous specimens and the sun is shining ☀️

01/04/2024

FINAL FEW HOURS TO PURCHASE TICKETS AND REGISTER SPECIMENS!

Have you been pondering attending this year's Southern Seminar at the beautiful Slimbridge Wetlands? Want to view some of the demonstrations? Get some feedback? See some taxidermy? Make some friends? Or simply attend the complimentary Wetlands tour? Well then, you only have two more hours to purchase tickets!!

Already bought tickets? Then remember that you need to register the specimens that you will be bringing within the next next two hours!!

All tickets sales and specimen registrations end at midnight! Tickets are £55 pp and includes lunch, teas and coffees, all demonstrations and talks, access to feedback on mounts if requested and a full, guided tour of the surrounding Wetlands. Saturday 20th April 2024, 9.30-16.30.

Please see previous posts for the days itinerary and more information.

Click the link below to book your place today:
https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/event-5594948?fbclid=IwAR2NHTQAmn4A1S_XDPSE9It306h8Q2K3KHCAW45dMQjQ2cPB4WmSzlzwk4s

Register your specimens here:

https://form.jotform.com/240366282200345?fbclid=IwAR3a7ZdikuZrT2VYOcWHdkdED81icL2l1eKbh0MJvO9cdv16CEvBeU5tGpQ

Please note:

This event is only available to fully paid members of the guild of Taxidermists. Members are permitted to bring one paying guest if they wish to do so.

31/03/2024

FINAL TWO DAYS!

The final date to buy tickets and register specimens for judging is the 1st of April (Monday - no, this isn't an April Fools!)

On Saturday 20th April, 9:30-16.30, we will be visiting Slimbridge Wetlands for a day of taxidermy! Bring specimens along for judging and feedback, observe and partake in the multiple talks and demonstration and attend the fully included tour of the stunning wetlands, learning about our beautiful native birds.

Bookings are now live! BOOKINGS AND SPECIMEN REGISTRATION WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY 1st APRIL

Click the link below to book your place today:
https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/event-5594948?fbclid=IwAR2NHTQAmn4A1S_XDPSE9It306h8Q2K3KHCAW45dMQjQ2cPB4WmSzlzwk4s

Register your specimens here:

https://form.jotform.com/240366282200345?fbclid=IwAR3a7ZdikuZrT2VYOcWHdkdED81icL2l1eKbh0MJvO9cdv16CEvBeU5tGpQ

Please note:

This event is only available to fully paid members of the guild of Taxidermists. Members are permitted to bring one paying guest if they wish to do so.

Full programme is below.

26/03/2024

Our Southern seminar is fast approaching!

Set in the Slimbridge Wetlands, this year's southern seminar serves as a full day out. With multiple, informative talks and demonstrations surrounding the art of taxidermy and preservation, a chance for feedback and earn credits on your mounts and also a fully included tour of the wetlands, informing you of the numerous and wonderful bird species present, we are confident that there will be something available for everyone.

Saturday 20th April, 9:30-16.30

Bookings are now live on the U.K. Guild website for the ‘Southern Seminar’.

Click the link below to book your place today:
https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/event-5594948?fbclid=IwAR2NHTQAmn4A1S_XDPSE9It306h8Q2K3KHCAW45dMQjQ2cPB4WmSzlzwk4s

Register your specimens here:

https://form.jotform.com/240366282200345?fbclid=IwAR3a7ZdikuZrT2VYOcWHdkdED81icL2l1eKbh0MJvO9cdv16CEvBeU5tGpQ

(Specimen registration closes at midnight on 1st April 2024)

Please note:

This event is only available to fully paid members of the guild of Taxidermists. Members are permitted to bring one paying guest if they wish to do so.

Full programme is below.

06/03/2024

Are you ready??

The Guild of Taxidermists Southern Seminar is fast approaching and is set in the beautiful location of Slimbridge Wetlands.

Not only do you have the opportunity to attend our numerous educational talks and demonstrations, bring along specimens for critique and meet up with like minded people, but you can also soak in the atmosphere and view the many beautiful bird species that call Slimbridge their home. We have also arranged a guided tour for all attendees so you can learn more about our native birds. All this is included in the ticket price!

Bookings are now live on the U.K. Guild website for the ‘Southern Seminar’.

Click the link below to book your place today:
https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/event-5594948?fbclid=IwAR2NHTQAmn4A1S_XDPSE9It306h8Q2K3KHCAW45dMQjQ2cPB4WmSzlzwk4s

Register your specimens here:

https://form.jotform.com/240366282200345?fbclid=IwAR3a7ZdikuZrT2VYOcWHdkdED81icL2l1eKbh0MJvO9cdv16CEvBeU5tGpQ

(Specimen registration closes at midnight on 1st April 2024)

Please note:

This event is only available to fully paid members of the guild of Taxidermists. Members are permitted to bring one paying guest if they wish to do so.

Full programme is below.

06/02/2024

The Guilds first Southern seminar is fast approaching and tickets will be available soon! The seminar is hosted at the WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire on Saturday 20th April 2024 and will showcase some taxidermy related talks and demonstrations, an opportunity to have your work judged and feedback provided and a tour of the Slimbridge wetlands which is home to a wide variety of avian species.

We hope to see you all there!

15/01/2024

We will be sending out the journals very soon to our full members, so please make sure the address registered to your account is correct, as we cannot reship journals if the address details are wrong.

To do this, please log into our website www.taxidermy.org.uk and head to the icon on the top right, where you can view your profile and edit your address.

As always, there are digital copies of the journal on our website that date back to the beginning. Please visit www.taxidermy.org.uk/journals (you'll need to log in to view) where you'll see each journal going back to 1978.

Here's a sneak preview of the front cover of the 2023 journal. Do you like the new look? 😄

12/01/2024

There's a new opportunity at the National Museum of Scotland to join the vertebrate biology preparator team to prepare high-quality research specimens for their collection.

The job posting deadline is 15th January. For more information on this position and to apply. Please visit:

https://vacancies.nms.ac.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?FromSearch=True&MenuID=&VacancyID=526

10/01/2024

A huge happy New Year to all our members, followers and friends!

2024 is going to be an exciting year for the Guild of Taxidermists. Please follow this page for updates on our upcoming seminars.

This year we will be hosting our first Southern Seminar, hosted at the WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire on Saturday 20th April 2024. Not only will this give a fantastic opportunity to meet up with other taxidermists, share tips and tricks, bring along work for valuable feedback and a chance at earning credits and supporting the organisation, but also Slimbridge is home to an array of wetland species where you can observe these wonderful animals in their natural habitat, participate in the wild bird feeds and attend the museum at your leisure – all included in the ticket price (£55 per person). Tickets will be on sale very soon and announced here on the Guilds page.

In addition, we are also hosting the main annual conference in a new venue this year; the University of Nottingham! There will guest speakers, again the chance to bring along work for feedback and credits and it will run Friday- Sunday 30th August – 1st September. We are excited for a change of scenery and will also be implementing a payment scheme for attendees to pay monthly to help stagger the costs. Again, more information on this will follow in the coming weeks.

Again, thank you for your ongoing support. We value each and every follower, member and contributor and hope that 2024 has many new and exciting projects for you to tackle and share 😊

21/12/2023

All the Guild Committee Wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

06/12/2023

We have updated our criteria for specialist qualifications and master qualifications and made it much clearer on the sizing of specimens and what types.

Below are the updates we've included for 2024's criteria.

For more information on the credit system. Please visit our website: https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/Credit-System

Specialist Taxidermist

The member must present for judging six specimens over a period of time, within one of the following five categories, with the aim of becoming a Specialist in that category.

Birds: This includes at least 1 raptor (including all owls), 1 game bird of woodcock size and above and 1 small bird, chaffinch size body or below. Plus any other 3. Please note: that chicks of any species will not count as one of the raptor, game or small birds required.

Mammals: This must include 1 small (stoat/ red squirrel or smaller), 1 medium (larger than red squirrel/stoat, but smaller than adult red fox/badger) and 1 large (adult red fox/badger and above) plus any other 3.

Fish: This must include 1 game fish, 1 sea fish and 1 coarse fish plus any other 3.

Reptile: This must include at least 1 snake, 1 lizard and an amphibian or tortoise plus any other 3.

Game Head: includes 1 large (sika or larger), 1 medium (Roe/Fox mask) and 1 small (hare or smaller) plus any other 3.

Again the specimens are judged as above and once six Standard Credits are earned in, for example, the bird category, that member is then awarded "Bird Specialist". The same can be achieved for each category.

The credits awarded in Accredited membership can be carried over to earn Specialist membership.

Master Taxidermist

The highest qualification in the Guild is that of Master. To achieve such an award, you must gain three higher credits, but those must be from 3 different bird families, 3 different mammal species, 3 different game head species, 3 different reptile species, or 3 different fish species.

The specimens need to be of an exceptionally high standard, the taxidermist must provide reference photos and photos of the form used to show they made it themselves or altered an existing one, in the following categories:

Birds
Mammals
Fish or Reptiles
Game Head

These specimens will be judged by a panel on the same basis as above. Three such awards in one category will achieve Master status for that category, e.g., three higher credits for bird mounts will earn the title of Master Bird Taxidermist.

It is possible for a Higher credit to be awarded at any time, for any piece that is judged to be of a high enough standard. Opportunities to present specimens for judging are given at each of the Conferences (AGMs) and at seminars. Higher credits can only be awarded at a Conference.

04/12/2023

A big congratulations to all those who earned credits this year.

The following Guild members earned credits in their field this year:

Mark Walton - Crow

Danielle Payne - Western Hognose

Tam Powell - Hooded Crow Hybrid

Becky Dick - Magpie

Will Matthews African Tree Squirrel

Colin Scott - Fox mask, Ptarmigan, ermine

Donal Mulcahy - Greenfinch, Blackbird, Water rail, ring necked pheasant, Barn owl, Mallard, Common Buzzard, Song thrush

Steve Smith - Stoat, peregrine falcon, Barn owl x2, Northern Goshawk, Red legged partridge

Sarah Burhouse - European S**g, common Buzzard

Sarah Keen - Red vented Bulbul. House sparrow

Alexandra Cherett - Eurasian Starling, Sugar Glider, Red squirrel x2, Lilac breasted roller, Lesser blue eared Starling

Elle Kaye - American kestrel, Red legged partridge, Blue throated bee-eater, long tailed shrike

Sarah Fowler - Patagonian Cavy, Flying fox

Gesrid Desira - Raven

06/11/2023

A big thank you to Drew Bain for his demonstration on carcass casting at this years annual conference! We always get a lot of requests by members every year for demonstrations on casting techniques, so it provided a great opportunity for members to see step-by-step how to cast a leopard gecko with silicone.

16/10/2023

This year we had a videographer attend our annual conference to give people a glimpse of who we are, what we do and what our events are like at the UK Guild of Taxidermists.

To find out more about us, please visit www.taxidermy.org.uk

Lee Matthews has created an amazing video showcasing just that. We hope you enjoy it.
You can view more of Lee's work here: www.lee-matthews.com

12/10/2023

Avian Challenge for Annual Conference 2024

This years avian challenge is a carrion crow.

The competition is designed to be fun, educational and rewarding for the competitors, and for those watching as the anonymous mounts are judged.

The entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, specimen shape, correctness of skin position and craftsmanship in other words, all the elements seen in a live crow contained in this reference photo.

Ground work will not be judged for the avian challenge. But if you are also submitting your crow for credit or competition judging, the groundwork will be taken into consideration as well.

There will be winners in Professional, Amateur and Novice categories.

For more information on our annual challenges, please head to the link below.

https://www.taxidermy.org.uk/Annual-Challenge

11/10/2023

APHA has also mentioned any old pieces of taxidermy that have no identification other than DOE numbers. Unfortunately, they no longer have the database to refer to and cannot use that as an identifier when applying for an Article 10 or Import/Export licenses.

If taxidermists can please attach a label either on the bottom of the base or the back of a case with their name and the year the piece was created so any future applications, there is proof of provenance.

07/10/2023

Winner of the Bari Logan Trophy and Best Novice Exhibit goes to:

Danielle Payne: Western Hognose Snake!

Reptiles are no easy task, and these little snakes with attitude are an extra challenge! However, Danielle tackled it despite her being new to the art form and judges were impressed enough with the results to award her Best Novice Exhibition for 2023.

A warmest thank you to all who attended this year and we look forward to seeing more novices and reptiles (the animals, not the taxidermists, though both are welcome!) at the 2024 conference.

04/10/2023

Congratulations to this years Norfolk Trophy for best ground work, sponsored by Alec Tiranti of www.tiranti.co.uk and winner of the £250.00 voucher is:

Melissa Eckley-Murphy (Melissa E-M): Cased mink.

Melissa's groundwork was all handmade, with hand sculpted leaves and a wax sculpted buttercup. Sculpted snails and pinned insects also decorated this river bank scene.

A huge thank you to our sponsor this year and as always, thank you to all who attended!!

03/10/2023

For this years Breakthrough Award and Judges Choice;

Alexandra Cherrett (Alexx Cherrett): Sugar Glider!

This spectacular little mount earned the award this year based on skill, technique and composition. A difficult creature to do, requiring the utmost patience and skill and Alexx went the extra mile in capturing that moment of flight (or, majestically falling!) in her mount. A huge congratulations and our warmest thanks for attending this year.

02/10/2023

Congratulations to this years Professional Game Head winners!

1st Place: Colin Scott - Fox Mask
2nd Place: Sarah Fowler - Patagonian Cavy
3rd Place: Dave Hornbrook: Fox mask and Brown Hare

29/09/2023

1st place for the professional Reptile Category this year goes to: Drew Bain for his Greek Tortoise!

Not an easy animal to do by any means and not something we see too often! A bit of added pressure surrounding this mount as well considering that it was a beloved pet that had been commissioned!

Well done to Drew for taking home the prize this year.

28/09/2023

Congratulations to the winners of the Professional Mammal category at the 2023 annual Guild of Taxidermists Conference.

1st place: Alexandra Cherrett - Red Squirrel/ Sugarglider
2nd Place: Colin Scott - Ermine
3rd Place: Steve Smith - Stoat

The standards seem to get higher and higher each year! We had a fantastic variety of mounts here this year and it's always fantastic to see our professionals return to the conference annually to test their skills, pick up new tips and share their knowledge with other attendees. A big, warm thank you to everyone who attended this year and made this event possible. We hope to see you again next year at our new venue!

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All the Guild Committee Wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

UK Guild of Taxidermist

This year we had a videographer attend our annual conference to give people a glimpse of who we are, what we do and what our events are like at the UK Guild of Taxidermists. To find out more about us, please visit www.taxidermy.org.uk Lee Matthews has created an amazing video showcasing just that. We hope you enjoy it. You can view more of Lee's work here: www.lee-matthews.com

All the Guild Committee wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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